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“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie


“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie has become my favorite book. Not only did this novel have a really good overall story but it was relatable to me on so many different levels: being part Indian, being from around Spokane, not getting help from teachers, and having alcoholism deep embedded in a family. Being Native American I am familiar with all the issues Junior faces while trying to become something for himself. My mother actually attended an Indian boarding school and was one of six siblings to actually leave the reservation and the only sibling to ever leave our reservation, from our family. Also, recently I picked up a huge passion for basketball so this novel even clicked a lot more with me. Experiencing the cultural change that Junior faces allowing me to see some of the cultural changes I had to fix when going to public school. Hearing how terrible the reservation was also helped me connect with my own background. Repeatedly my parents remind me of the horrors tied in with our Indian reservations; this novel allowed me to experience that on my own and relate to my mom. Overall, this novel was very impactful to me and has inspired me to have more discussion with my mom in her youth.
This text provides many different teaching opportunities. It can be used to show the cultural differences that are still present today in society. To this day we have Indian children who suffer in reservation schools. Additionally, it brings a humbling tone to the reader. You appreciate more the things that you have as you watch junior struggle with what he doesn’t have. I would use this text to spark class discussions on oppression or current issues happening within the U.S...
The obstacles I see in this text is the sex. I see many parents and members of the community struggling with Junior’s masturbation obsession. I would really teach content on Native American history as well. I’m interested to see how my peers reacted to the text knowing they lack a lot of Native American background.

Overall this story is extremely valuable. I see myself having this text on my bookshelf. I really enjoyed this piece and hope to read it again one day. 

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